[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 7 (Tuesday, January 22, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E47-E48]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        HONORING CONGRESSWOMAN JO ANN EMERSON ON HER RETIREMENT

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                           HON. WM. LACY CLAY

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 22, 2013

  Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a great American who 
leaves this body today to return to the private sector, my wonderful 
friend from Cape Girardeau . . . Congresswoman Jo Ann Emerson. Her 
retirement is a great loss to the citizens of southeast Missouri, to 
our State, and to our Nation.
  As the outgoing dean of Missouri's congressional delegation, she has 
led our group with fairness, respect, and a spirit of cooperation. As 
she retires today, I know that every member of the Missouri delegation, 
as well as her many friends on both sides of the aisle, join me in 
congratulating her on an exceptional career in the U.S. House. 
Congresswoman Jo Ann Emerson has represented southeast Missouri with 
honor and integrity and in the face of so much discord, so much 
distortion, and too often, an inability to compromise,
  Jo Ann has always been a voice of calm, reason, and good common 
sense. There is no doubt that the center aisle caucus will miss her 
strong, principled leadership. Congresswoman Emerson is a member who 
searches for common ground . . .
  Both out of instinct and because of her deeply held belief that 
Congress was sent here to work together to solve problems, not to 
obstruct the government, not to incite intolerance or rancor, not to 
set one region of the country against the other, but to seek out, and 
then support a common agenda that will do the most good for America.
  That is how Jo Ann has lived her life, and that is how she has 
served. Congresswoman Emerson is a skilled legislator, she is a 
wonderful colleague, and she is a great friend of mine. Congresswoman 
Emerson represents the best of Missouri.
  I will miss her wise voice as Democrats and Republicans seek common 
ground to move the Nation forward. My only consolation on her 
retirement, is the knowledge that my good friend, her husband, attorney 
Ron Gladney, and their wonderful children . . . will finally have their 
wife and mother back. And that is a great family blessing that we 
should all understand and appreciate. From the dark days immediately 
after she assumed the congressional seat of her late husband . . . 
Congressman Bill Emerson.
  Jo Ann has brought the Missouri values of common sense, family, 
community, faith, and freedom to the floor every day.
  I shall miss her wisdom, her kindness, and her decency, and I know 
that our State, this honorable body, and our Nation will be forever 
grateful for her service.
  Congresswoman, I thank you for all your help and friendship, I 
congratulate you on your retirement. May God bless you and your family.

[[Page E48]]



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